What is AKO Webmail?

AKO Webmail is part of the U.S. army’s intranet. It allows users with access to Army Knowledge Online all the standard features of a typical online email client.

The Army Knowledge Online (AKO) intranet serves as a connection for Army personnel and civilian Department of Defense (DoD) workers around the world. This service is not limited to Regular Army personnel, but it is open to all members of the Army branch, including the Reserves, the National Guard, and even some select contractors who work directly with the Dod in regards to Army concerns. The AKO is a portal through which these various groups can communicate, keeping themselves up to date on important public and private information, and allowing them to attend classes as either individuals or as members of units. The AKO is primarily a single web portal based on corporate intranet models that allow the members of the Army community to build storage areas, websites, blogs, and to engage in various chats and discussions. Even Army retirees and their family members can get accounts on the AKO. The proverbial “glue” which holds this all together, however, is the AKO’s webmail system. Check out http://akoarmymil.com/ for more info.

Why was AKO Webmail Created?

AKO Webmail was originally created during support of Iraqi Liberty in Iraq in 2004 in order to have a secure means of rapid communication between Army units. Today it enables the far flung assets of the Army, with its modern warriors in locations as distant as Afghanistan and isolated bases around the world, to stay in contact with the Army community at large. Information can be passed quickly and efficiently between separate commands; intelligence stored in the Pentagon can be uploaded into secure storage files and accessed by commanders in the field; individual soldiers can not only study new tactics and learn from the combat experiences of others half a world away, but they can also keep in touch with their friends and loved ones regardless of where the soldiers themselves happen to be stationed, and all of this is through the use of the AKO website and its webmail system.

The AKO webmail system allows the United States Army work force, one of the largest work forces on the planet, to stay in touch with one another. First and foremost is the nature of the webmail system – it is extremely secured, allowing for the exchange of sensitive material between US Army officers and, if necessary, their civilian counterparts. While using the AKO website the officers know that they are using a secure connection not only for their personal interests, but for the exchange of information and the safety of the Nation as well. Log into the official website here https://webmail.us.army.mil/

AKO Webmail Security?

An AKO webmail account is not instantly given when a member of the Army creates a basic account on the AKO website. Considering the incredibly sensitive nature – and the amount of security around it – the AKO webmail requires an entirely new entry of personal information in order for an account to be created. The process is not difficult, however, and is meant to help today’s modern warrior and not to create frustration. The Army even goes so far as to offer tutorials on how to setup an AKO webmail account, and these tutorials can be found in print online and even as audio files for those who may need them.

In order to create the account the soldier, civilian worker, retiree, or family member must go to the AKO official website. The website recommends, however, that before the person begins to create their webmail account, that they have all of the necessary personal information with them (date of birth, social security number, etc.) that they’ll need to enter into the system in order to obtain an AKO webmail account. https://akologin.us.army.mil

Setting up your AKO Webmail?

Once at the AKO site the creation of a webmail account is an easy, four step process.

The person seeking a webmail account will want to go to www.us.army.mil and locate the new user button and click upon “Register without a CAC” if necessary. If they do click upon it they’ll need to select their status from a list of options (ie. Army National Guard, Civilian Contractor, etc.)

The creation of the account itself will require the entering of personal information which they should – hopefully – have prepared prior to their starting the process. Some accounts will require the individual to have a “sponsor” in order to continue and at that point they will have to have all of the applicable information for their sponsor in order to obtain their account.

At this point the individual will have to choose a user name and password and ensure that both of these follow the strict security guidelines established by the military for the protection of their systems.

Finally, with all of this completed, the individual will be able to immediately access and use their new AKO webmail account. If a sponsor was required for the creation of the account the sponsor will need to be contacted in order for them to verify the individual’s status and eligibility for an AKO webmail account.

For security purposes the AKO website requires two factors of authentication when logging into the AKO webmail account regardless of how the account was originally created. When logging into an AKO webmail account using a CAC (common access card), the user will need to enter both their PIN (Personal Identification Number), and their CAC number. Should the user choose to use their user name and password, they will be required to first enter their user name and then password, followed with their Knowledge Based Authorization (KBA) which is used to ensure that the individual’s account will not be vulnerable to computer hackers.

The AKO webmail is part of a large intranet system that enables its members to keep in touch with the Army community as a whole. Secure, safe, and easy to use, an AKO webmail is an essential part of the life of today’s modern warrior regardless of where that warrior is stationed in the world.